Soft shells

Causes of hens laying eggs with soft egg shells

Source: Victoria RobertsCountry Smallholding October 2002 p23

Hens may lay eggs with soft shells because they have oviduct infections affecting the shell gland. Terramycin powder may help, and it can be administered in the hen's water. Young hens may also be affected by Infectious Bronchitis, which may mean that their eggs never have shells. Hens may start to eat their own eggs, and once they do this, it is not easy to get them to stop. Triggering broodiness may help, for example by excluding light from the nest box and placing eggs in it.CH,HD